Crowds flock to Araluen tulips
Warm weather has brought on a stunning sea of colour earlier than usual this year at Araluen Botanic Park.
More than 5000 people took advantage of weekend sunshine to explore the 120,000 blooms at the park's annual tulip festival.
For Morgan Keig, of Atwell, it was her first taste of the visual feast after her parents Melissa and Michael took her and sister Addison to the festival yesterday.
Mrs Keig said the children enjoyed it so much they would return this season.
"We had a fantastic morning," she said. "We had a good walk and there were a lot of little pockets of tulips that were really nice to discover. We are really keen to go back and take a picnic up there."
Araluen Botanic Park Foundation general manager Rod Ross said people should get to the festival as soon as they could.
"The impact of mass planted tulips is something people need to experience firsthand," he said.
"Photos don't do it justice."
Visitors can enjoy Turkish, Dutch and Australian cuisine and dance, art, music and train rides. Azaleas, camellias and other flowers are also on display.
The festival runs until September 21, with information at araluenbotanicpark.com.au.
